The Best Survival Knife for Every Wilderness Situation 2020

Why Choosing the Right Survival Knife is Important

A good knife is priceless. Every survivalist or outdoorsman worth his/her salt knows that your knife is one of the most important tools when it comes to survival gear. Actually, we’ll go as far as saying a good knife is the most important tool in your pack, no matter what situation you find yourself in.

A good survival knife should be able to do a wide variety of jobs. From skinning to carving to batoning… whether you’re backcountry camping or hunting, in a genuine survival situation, or just doing some DIY work around the house, a sharp, well-made knife can (and will) make all the difference.

When you’re buying a survival knife, you’re going to come across a huge range of options, from inexpensive lock knives with skeleton handles to huge, almost machete-like knives that could replace a machete when you need to clear a trail through thick brush. There are options that are extremely affordable, and there are definitely more premium options as well, with prices that reflect a higher level of craftsmanship and care.

This article will help you cut your way the through the dense undergrowth of BS to find the best survival knives out there. We’ve compiled a list of the best knives that covers all the bases – so whether you’re on a tight budget or want the highest quality, you’ll find something on this list. There are larger and smaller knives on this list that work better for different kinds of applications. We cover knives that are better for bushcraft and other knives that are designed for self defense. Some knives weigh over a pound and others weigh only a few ounces. Whatever your reason for buying a survival knife, there’s a knife on this list that’s going to be perfect for you.

There’s a list of key features to keep in mind when choosing your survival knife. As I said, there’s a huge range of options out there, and knowing the key specifications of a survival knife will help you navigate the market. There’s also a handy Buyer’s Guide at the end of the article with a few questions to help you narrow down the choice.

Key features of a survival knife

The knife market is huge. There are literally thousands of survival knives out there in every color, style, material, and price. You’ll find knives for a few dollars all the way up to hundreds, and even thousands of dollars.

We’re not looking for a museum piece here, so I’ve kept all the knives on the list within a reasonable price range (nothing above 200 USD, which is a lot for a survival knife). There are some premium knives on the list, but nothing too extravagant. Check out the key specifications and features you’ll want to keep an eye on when deciding which knife is right for you.

Length

Survival knives come in all sizes. Small survival knives tend to be between 6-8 inches total while large knives can be over a foot long and you’ll find knives of every length in between.

You’ll often see two different measurements in a knife’s list of features. The longer one is the overall length of the blade and the handle. The shorter length is the blade alone. Sometimes you’ll see three measurements when the cutting edge of the blade doesn’t extend the entire length of the blade – in this case, you might also see a measurement for the sharp edge alone as well.

Survival knife blades can measure anywhere between 3” long to almost a foot (we reckon that anything longer than a foot would reasonably be referred to as a machete). The longest blade on this list is ten inches, while the shortest is just over three.

The longer the knife, the heavier the jobs it can tackle. Longer, heftier more machete-like survival knives can even tackle chopping small logs, digging trenches, and cutting brush. Shorter, smaller, more compact knives can fit in your pocket and are good for finer work like carving or skinning.

Blade style

You’ll see a couple of different blade styles on this list. Some survival knives have fixed blades that don’t fold up. These are also called sheath knives or fixed blade knives as most of them come with sheaths for storage and transport.

You can also get lock knives, also known as folding survival knives, where the blade folds into the handle. A lock mechanism, often a liner lock, keeps the blade in place when it’s extended for safety. Folding survival knives tend to be smaller and lighter than fixed-blade knives and therefore more compact and portable, though they are also weaker and more liable to break. In general, we have a preference for fixed blade knives due to their superior sturdiness – however, we understand the appeal of a lighter weight, “fits-in-your-pocket” knife as well so we have a few folding survival knives on this list as well.

Tang

When it comes to buying a survival knife, the tang is one of the most important characteristics of a fixed-blade knife. The tang is the bottom part of the blade that extends into the handle. One way to think of it is like the knife’s backbone.

The tang is what gives a knife its strength. There are a few different types of tang. The most common ones are full, skeletonized, partial, narrowing, and stick. As you can probably guess, full tang is the strongest as the blade and handle are comprised of the same single piece of metal that run through the entirety of the handle.

Weight

Small survival knives weigh as little as a few ounces and you’ll barely notice them in your pocket or backpack. Small, lightweight survival knives are perfect for hunting and camping, especially if weight or space are going to be an issue. They’re also great for pocket knives for DIY.

Larger, heavy-duty survival knives can weigh over a pound. With a foot of steel and hard plastic grip, large survival knives take up plenty of space either in a pack or on your belt. Heavier survival knives are (obviously) better for heavier jobs. Just be careful if you’re going to be carrying it long distances. An extra pound here and there quickly adds up. Plus, sometimes heavier knives can be redundant if you’re also carrying a heftier cutting tool to begin with (like a survival hatchet or machete). We like knives that fall somewhere in the middle – not so big that they weight you down, not so small that they can’t be used for slightly heavier duty tasks in a pinch. For us, our favorite knives have blades that are roughly 5 or 6 inches.

Grip

While the blade seems like the most important part of a knife, the handle or grip are almost as important. It’s essential that you’re able to keep hold of the knife no matter what job you’re doing. Slipping can lead to severe injuries, so make sure you take a look at the knife’s grip.

Some of the knives on this list have plastic grips. They’re often textured to add extra grip, and you’ll see contoured grips to prevent slipping. You’ll also see words like quilling, jimping, and choil. These are just fancy words to describe the safety features on the handle.

There are also some knives with nylon grips. There’s no real consensus over which type of material offers a better grip, and it really comes down to personal preference. One advantage of plastic is it tends to last longer then nylon, especially on the premium knives.

It’s also important that the grip is comfortable in your hand and feels natural to hold and use. In survival situations, it’s entirely possible that you’ll be using your knife for multiple hours a day if you’re improvising shelter, cutting up food, skinning animals, batoning or feathering wood, etc. There are a lot of survival tasks that rely on your knife. That means that not only does your knife have to hold up in terms of durability, it also has to be super comfortable to use so that your hand doesn’t get chafed raw or injured.

Sheath

Most of the survival knives on this list come with a sheath of some kind. There’s nylon, plastic, and leather sheaths to help you attach your knife to your belt or strap it onto your pack. Sheaths also help protect the blade while you’re transporting the knife and keep it dry in the rain.

The sheath isn’t the most important part of the knife, but a good sheath will keep the knife in good condition over time. With relatively careful use and occasional maintenance, and a bit of care, a good survival knife should last you for years, if not decades.

The 11 Best Survival Knives for Every Situation

Here are the eleven best survival knives on the market today. You’ll find a good range of options from budget to value to premium. There are fixed-blade, full-tang Bowie knives and 4-ounce locking pocket knives – and everything in between. Whatever your specific needs and use-cases are, there’s a knife on this list that will make sense for you.

1. Premium Choice Survival Knife: Fallkniven A1

Features:

Laminated VG10 steel blade

12” overall length

Ergonomic grip

Full tang

Zytel sheath

The Fallkniven A1 is a beautiful and simple knife. Its laminated VG10 steel blade surpasses international standards for strength. Its full tang extends fully through the handle, making the knife strong enough to withstand pretty much anything.

The ergonomic grip makes the Fallkniven A1 easy and comfortable to hold in your hand and work with. The knife feels indestructible and is suitable for finer cutting and carving work as well as heavier duty tasks like batoning. Weighing a little over 12 ounces and measuring over 12 inches, it’s a decent size but has remarkable balance.

This is truly a buy it for life survival knife. If you take good care of it, sharpen it once in a while, keep it sheathed when not in use… The Fallkniven A1 has the potential to last you a lifetime. when we say a lifetime, we don’t mean for 5 years. We literally mean multiple decades of utility.

The beautiful design, ergonomics, and economy of the A1 make it one of the leading all-purpose survival knives available today and it has one of the best reputations on the market. For its design, feel, and overall quality, the Fallkniven A1 is our choice for the best premium survival knife. If you’re shopping for a new survival knife and you’re not working with a budget, this is the knife you should get.

While the company is Swedish, the knife is made in Japan by expert blademasters

No warranty

Not as lightweight

2. Best Overall Survival Knife: Ka-Bar Becker BK2

Features:

1095 cro-van steel blade

Grivory handle

Full tang

5.5” blade length

Glass-filled nylon sheath

While some people say it’s impossible to find the ultimate survival knife, the KA-Bar BK2 comes very close. It’s strong and tough enough to tackle any cutting or carving job you can throw at it, but comfortable, maneuverable, and definitely sharp enough for skinning, building traps, and even slicing and dicing onions for your camp stew.

While the Ka-Bar Becker BK2 isn’t the lightest knife on the list (it weighs around 1 pound), its weight gives it a nice feeling of being sturdy and durable. You can hammer the back of the knife while batoning and feel totally confident that you won’t do any damage to it. The blade is a ¼” thick!

The grip is less textured than some other survival knives. I personally like the slick handle. If you want something more grippy, you can always tape it up with some hockey tape. Plus, the blade looks awesome with its black rust-resistant coating.

If you’re looking for an excellent all-round bushcraft and survival knife for the wilderness then look no further. With a price point in the mid-range, you’ll get much more than you bargained for with the Ka-Bar Becker BK2.

Features:

4.1” stainless steel blade

8.75” overall length

4.1 ounces

Plastic sheath

High-friction grip

Low price

Morakniv has an epic reputation among knife companies, and when the budget Morakniv Companion came out, it became an instant best-seller. For a ridiculously affordable price, Morakniv gives you a knife comparable to many of the most expensive knives on the market.

This sounds like an exaggeration, but you’ll see plenty of glowing, 5-star reviews for the Companions. Its 4.1 hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade is perfect for a multitude of uses, like carving, food prep, and cutting tinder.

The Swedish made steel blade is razor-sharp and, if you take care of it, will last longer than carbon steel and is less prone to rust. Plus, it feels great in your hand. With a patterned, high-friction grip, it’s easy to hold onto, even in wet and cold weather.

For a great price, the Morakniv Companion comes in 9 different color options with a color-matching plastic sheath. It’s made in Sweden, and Morakniv even throws in a limited lifetime warranty.

If you’re looking for good bang for your buck, then the Morakniv is the knife for you. It’s easily our choice for best budget survival knife, and no knife in a similar price range comes close to it.

Features:

Lightweight handle

TacHide inlay grip

Liner lock

3.6” blade

Lightweight

Nylon sheath

Gerber’s garnered a great reputation over the last few years as being one of the better value survival gear companies out there. It’s no wonder Bear Grylls has collaborated with them. And the Freeman Guide is no different, offering all you need from a survival knife at a great price.

Unlike the first two knives, the Freeman Guide Folding Knife is a (surprise) folding survival knife (there is also a fixed blade version of the Freeman Guide), so you can fold it up when not using it. Gerber throws in a nice waterproof nylon sheath to attach your Freeman Guide to your belt or pack.

The lightweight handle has a TacHide inlay grip, that makes holding the Freeman Guide natural and comfortable. The material of the handle makes it feel extra secure and safe while you’re using it. The Liner lock secures the blade in place and there’s practically no wiggle, which is important both from a safety perspective and important because it helps protect the blade.

With a 3.6” blade and 8.1” overall length, it’s relatively small. Weighing a little over 6 ounces, it’s also one of the lightest survival knives out there. The Gerber Freeman Guide is our choice for both the best value survival knife and the best folding survival knife thanks to it’s practical, utilitarian design, lightweight-ness (which we want in a folding knife), and unbeatable value. Ultimately, we prefer fixed blade knives to folding knives, but if you like the portability that comes with folding knife, then you can’t go wrong with the Geber Freeman Guide.

Features:

6.5” 1095 Carbon Steel Blade

Black powder coated

11.75” overall length

12 ounces

Molded Polymer Sheath

Comfortable Canvas Micarta Grip

Made in the USA

ESEE is definitely a favorite in the survival community and for good reason – they make incredibly good knives, and are frequently brought up in discussions about the best survival knives that are “Buy it for Life”. To that end, they even offer an unconditional lifetime promise to repair or replace your knife should it become damaged.

ESEE knives in general and the 6P Fixed Blade Knife in general is extremely highly rated. The 1095 carbon steel blade retains a sharp edge, and the 6 and a half inch blade is a good bit longer than the typical survival knife and that means that the ESEE can handle heavier duty work better than many of the other knives on this list. Despite the longer blade and the fact that it’s heavier, the ESEE 6P still feels very well balanced. The grip is canvas micarta, and feels natural to hold in your hand, and you don’t need to spend any time being worried about slippage.

The fact that it’s made in the USA and that the warranty/guarantee is unmatched make the ESEE 6P a very tempting choice, and if you’re in the market for a slightly longer, heftier survival knife then we’d recommend it without hesitation, particularly for bushcraft – it’s not so big as to be unwieldy, but its larger size and superb quality means that it can stand up to all kinds of heavier duty tasks that surviving in the wild will demand of you and your knife.The craftsmanship of every ESEE knife is superb, and the 6P is no exception.

We don’t really have any criticisms of the ESEE 6P – the reason it’s not higher up on this list is because it’s priced at a slight premium, and in the premium range we like the Fallkniven A1 slightly better. The 6P is cheaper than the A1 though, so if you want a super high quality knife but the Fallkniven A1 is out of your budget, this is the one we’d recommend to you.

We’re calling the ESEE 6P our best bushcraft knife – we think that the size is perfect for taking into the wilderness with you. In a pinch it can be used to clear brush and because its so durable (plus the lifetime guarantee doesn’t hurt), you can beat it up, (e.g use it to baton wood) without any worries. It’s also comfortable enough in your hand that you’ll feel good about using it for more intricate work.

Features:

Full tang

12.1” overall length

6.4” blade

1095 high carbon steel blade

Thermoplastic elastomer handle

Nylon sheath

The 12.1” Shrade SCHF9 has a 6.4” 1095 high carbon steel blade, which, in my opinion, gives it a very pleasing aesthetic. Its grippy, textured handle is made out of black, ring-textured thermoplastic elastomer, making the grip feel nice and secure. There’s also a front quillon, thumb jimping, and finger choil for added personal safety.

The ballistic belt sheath gives you quick and easy access, and it comes with a removable storage pouch. There’s also a handy lanyard hole in the handle butt as an extra way to carry it. The Shrade SCHF9 weighs exactly a pound.

The Schrade SCHF9 is a great all-rounder and all-purpose survival knife. It’s big enough to work for some heavier duty tasks, though maneuverable enough to do finer work. It probably wouldn’t be the best for skinning or intricate carving, but if you’re looking for a one-stop-shop, this is a pretty good option. A solid all-rounder knife that we’re happy to recommend.

Features:

10” carbon blade

Black powdercoat finish

Full tang

Non-slip rubber handle

Contoured grip

Built-in handguard

Lanyard holes

Molded sheath

The Kershaw Camp 1077’s 10” 65Mn carbon steel blade has a nice black powdercoat finish for added toughness and easier maintenance. It also makes it look pretty cool. The Kershaw knife is a machete-style knife and is designed for hard use. It’s perfectly suited for clearing brush, stripping bark and limbs, and even chopping down small trees.

The full tang gives it extra strength, and there’s a nice non-slip rubber overmold with contoured grip, and a built-in hand guard for added safety. The Kershaw Camp 1077 comes with two lanyard holes and a molded sheath.

The Camp 1077 is ideal for camping, hunting, trail maintenance, survivalists, and landscapers. If you’re willing to pay a little more, the Kershaw entry will stand up to pretty much every job you can throw at it.

The downside of the Kershaw Camp is that its halfway between a survival knife and a machete. In practice, that means that some of the finer work that you’d like to be able to do with your survival knife can’t be done with the Kershaw Camp. It’s also not quite as large as a standard machete, which means on the heavy duty side, you’re lacking a little bit as well. The Kershaw Camp is the perfect option if you don’t want to also carry around a heavier cutting tool (like a survival hatchet or machete). On the other hand, if you do generally have a heavier piece of cutting/chopping gear with you, then you should go with something smaller and more lightweight than the Kershaw Camp 1077.

Features:

4.7” high carbon steel blade

Full tang

Black rubber handle

Handguard to prevent slipping

Comes with sheath

Blood groove and lanyard hole

Smith & Wesson might be known better for their firearms, but their knives are built with the same quality and reliability. The 9” fixed blade SWHRT9B is no different and gets plenty of stellar customer feedback.

The overall knife measures 9” in length with a 4.7” blade. It has a full tang, and it feels solid and well-balanced. It’s relatively small, weighing only 7.7 ounces, making it an ideal knife for carrying on your belt or in your boot.

The sheath is leather and surprisingly durable compared to plastic and nylon sheaths. The thumb break with a quick-release on the sheath makes for effortless deployment. There’s also a small brass tube lanyard hole for some string or cordage.

To be clear, the SWHRT9B is not ideal for typical survival tasks – carving, batoning, and so forth – because it’s dual edged. Dual edges knives make many basic survival tasks significantly more dangerous to carry out. Just think of batoning for example – you can’t baton with a dual edges knife because whatever you’re using to strike the “back” of your knife will just get cut, because there is no “back” to a double edged knife in the first place. The SWHRT9B is self defense knife that can also be used for survival tasks in a pinch, but it isn’t really a “survival” knife in the traditional sense.

The Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B is a small, well designed self defense knife for an affordable price that can also double as a survival knife for some tasks. It’s ideal as a small self defense weapon. You should make sure you check your area’s rules and regulations about carrying this kind of knife in public.

Features:

6.6” titanium coated high carbon stainless steel blade

Black textured thermoplastic elastomer handle

9.9 ounces

Finger choil to prevent slipping

Removable 4.5” steel pry tool with 5 tools

The Schrade SCHF27 is a beast. It weighs almost a pound and measures almost a foot. With an 11.5” overall length and 6.6” blade, this is one of the biggest knives on the list. The fixed blade is made of titanium coated high carbon stainless steel, which makes it feel super durable.

The textured handle feels nice and grippy, even in adverse weather conditions. Plus, the contoured grip and finger choil give it an added domension of safety and security. The thermoplastic elastomer handle is similarly sturdy and adds to the overall durability and probable lifespan of the Schrade SCHF27, although the construction of the handle isn’t quite as tight and on point as we’d like.

One of the special features of the Schrade SCHF27 is the removable 4.5” titanium coated stainless steel pry tool. It fits into the handle and, when added to the blade, gives you access to 5 different tools: a flathead screwdriver, strap cutter, bottle opener, ¼” hex wrench, and a wrench driver.

If you’re looking for a solid, heavy-duty survival knife that also comes with a bunch of bonuses, then the SCHF27 is a solid contender thanks to both the knife and the nice bonus multi-tool thrown in as well.

Features:

Full tang

7” full length

440 stainless steel

Black matte finish

Nylon cord wrapped handle

Nylon sheath

Ferro rod firestarter

This sweet little fixed blade Tanto Knife from SE is ideal for camping, hiking, and survival training. The simplistic design is easy to modify and utilitarian. The cord-wrapped handle gives a surprising grip even in wet and cold conditions.

One of the great features of the Tanto Knife is the Ferro rod that comes with it. Carry them together in a fitted nylon sheath, and you’ve got an incredibly useful little emergency firestarter tool. The 440 stainless steel blade is super sharp out of the box and stays sharp.

Coming in with one of the lowest prices, the Tanto Knife from SE makes a great backup knife to throw in your glovebox or first aid kit. It’s very small, very affordable, and works pretty well. While it’s too small for bigger jobs, and probably won’t compete with some of our favorite (better constructed) knives on this list, if you’re after something cheap and cheerful, or if you’re looking for something super lightweight and portable to throw into a survival kit as a backup knife, the SE Tanto Outdoor Knife does the job.

Features:

3.1” high carbon stainless steel blade

Serrated and smooth blade

Aluminum handle

Liner lock

Pocket clip

Finger flipper and ambidextrous thumb knobs

This nice little folding survival knife from Smith & Wesson is a solid, inexpensive knife – a good choice for EDC(everyday carry) and DIY, as well as a lightweight addition for camping and hunting trips. Because of its size and design, it wouldn’t stand up to the bigger jobs, but for light tasks, it’ll get the job done.

It’s one of the smaller knives on the list, measuring just over 7 inches and weighing 3.5 ounces. The black oxide high carbon stainless steel blade is super sharp out of the box. The black, cut-through aluminum handle cuts down on weight, but with a contoured grip, it feels secure in your hand.

With its ambidextrous thumb knobs, it’s super easy to deploy the blade quickly and safely. Once the knife is open, you can take confidence in the fact that the blade won’t slip with the durable, extra-safe liner lock keeping it in place.

If you’re looking for a simple little folding survival knife for everyday use, DIY jobs, or casual camping trips, the SWHRT9B from Smith & Wesson is a solid, inexpensive option.

The Best Survival Knife: A Buyer’s Guide To Making the Right Choice

Take a look at these key points to keep in mind when you’re buying a survival knife. Whether it’s for camping, hunting, DIY, or emergencies, a survival knife should be a all-around knife that can do everything from being your companion for small jobs around the house to saving your life by allowing you to start a fire or stake some tent poles. That’s why it’s essential you get the right one for your needs.

The following questions should help you narrow down your choice to the right survival knife for you.

What’s your survival knife for?

One of the best ways to narrow down the options is to ask yourself what your survival knife is for. It’s easy to think you want a good all-rounder but think about the jobs you’ll actually use the survival knife for.

Are you going to be splitting firewood at camp, digging holes or trenches, skinning a deer, feathering wood, screwing screws (use a survival multitool), or sharpening pencils (use a pencil sharpener!)? A knife designed for heavier-duty use isn’t much good at fine detail work, and vice versa. Figuring out what you’re going to do with your survival knife and finding the right balance point between heavy duty and intricate work is a great way to narrow down the choice.

What length blade do you need?

Similarly, the length of the blade should be determined by what you’re going to do with the knife. Long knives are better for chopping and clearing bush, while shorter knives are better at cutting, scoring, and carving. If you figure out what length blade you need, you’ll be able to isolate a few knives on the list and help make the decision.

What’s your budget?

Is this your primary knife? If so, then you might want to splash out a little and buy a premium knife that will stand up to a whole range of jobs and last you for years. If this is a backup knife to throw in your glove compartment, you probably don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars.

Deciding on a budget will help you whittle down the options as I’ve grouped the list into a few different price pools. The inexpensive knives tend to be made from cheaper materials by big, well-known outdoor companies.

On the other end of the price spectrum are premium, high-quality knives designed and fabricated by some of the leading knife manufacturers in the world. There’s no upper limit to knives, but I’ve tried to keep them to less than two hundred dollars maximum.

The factors that will help you decide how much you want to spend are:

How often you’ll be using it – how often do you go out into the wilderness? How often do you actually require the use of a knife when you are in the wild?

What type of environment you’re going in: the mountains, the plains, etc.

How long your trips usually are.

What you’re planning to do with the knife.

ESEE, Ka-Bar, and Fallkniven are all well-established and trustworthy brands on the market, which is why their knives cost a little bit more than some of the other brands in this list. That’s because they’re made from great materials, they’re comfortable, easy to handle, resistant to tough conditions, and have superior warranty programs.

Lightweight knife or heavy-duty?

If you’re going on a multi-day hike that’s most likely going to be safe and you’re following well known trails, you might not want a knife that weighs a pound because it’ll weigh you down. On the other hand, if you want a knife that will find utility if you’re living permanently in the woods, you’d definitely want something heavier duty. Lightweight knives aren’t necessarily weak, and there are some awesome lightweight premium knives that can stand up to the heavier knives.

If you want a knife to throw in the truck as a “just-in-case”, or you don’t plan to pack heavier survival tools like a machete or hatchet into your survival kit, then you can afford to have a heftier knife that weighs a little bit more. Deciding on the weight of your knife can help you narrow down the choice to just a few options, and whether or not you want a heavier knife will also depend on what other gear you might expect to have with you.

Durability

You want a strong sturdy knife that won’t break or get damaged while you’re stranded – that leaves you absolutely defenseless. Make sure the craftsmanship is good and that its parts are well joined together. Also, make sure to choose a reputable brand that has cache within the survival community (in particular, we recommend Fallkniven, ESEE, KA-BAR and Morakniv) that’s had consistently positive reviews.

Versatility

Many good knives can be used in a plethora of ways. Check for the versatility of all your tools, because carrying a lot of equipment will add to its bulk as well as weight. A few of the best knives have extra stuff included like:

Screwdriver

Multipurpose tool

Flint and tinder / ferro rod firestarter

Sheath

Belt clip

On the other hand, you don’t want a novelty knife that comes with a dozen additional features but can’t be reliably used to cut open a potato. Sometimes more features = a lower quality blade, so you’ll want to try and strike a balance between features and the quality of the main product.

Quality of materials

You can’t get a top grade item without considering the quality of its manufacturing and its materials. When it comes to knives, the best materials will accentuate its strength and durability, but will also render it relatively lightweight and easy to carry:

Hard rubber and a sort of resistant polymer for the handle. Don’t go for hollow handles, because that indicates your knife doesn’t have a full tang, which means it can get damaged faster.

Stainless steel or carbon steel for the blade are both amazing. Stainless steel is sturdy and long-lasting, but it’s not as sharp. Carbon steel is easier to sharpen and be kept that way but is less resistant to rust.

Leather or a sort of polymer for the sheath. These materials are resistant, waterproof and can withstand many uses, in general we don’t like sheaths made out of cheap plastic.

Why Do You Even Need A Survival Knife?

If you’re not yet convinced about the many benefits of having a top notch knife while outdoors, this is where we’ll convince you. There are a lot of features you won’t benefit from if you choose a subpar knife, so just think about all these things you need to get done in the wild:

Clearing a trail through brush: Durability is key here. Cutting through thick undergrowth requires skill, but it also requires a tough, sturdy knife.

Food preparation: Beyond just chopping and slicing your food, if you’re in survival mode you might be hunting or trapping your own game. Animals need to be skinned and dressed. A knife is required for both.

Building shelters: Cutting branches, carving, making holes, staking poles, notching tree limbs, cutting tarp – a knife is required for all these actions.

Making fires: Apart from cutting firewood, did you know a survival knife can be used for making tinder out of inner bark by manually threshing it? Plus, you can use it on your Ferro rod to light it (depending on what kind of blade your survival knife has.).

Hunting animals: Tie a knife to a longer stick and you have yourself a spear. But the knife has to be strong enough to penetrate through the game, which is why you need a sharp and sturdy knife.

Signaling: Are you lost? Signal your presence by carving messages or signals into tree bark. If there’s a search party, they might come across it.

Hammering: A high-quality knife is strong enough to be used as a hammer because it has a resistant handle. A well crafted, durable knife can also be hammered (which is basically what you need to do if you’re batoning)

Improvising DIY tools: >You may not have a multi-tool with you, but you can use the knife’s tip as a screwdriver to fix stuff around camp if it’s sharp enough. You can also build other makeshift tools with a knife by carving wood.

Self-defense: Animals, humans? Who can say what’s might happen in the wilderness? A knife is a pretty good last resort for self defense.

First Aid tool: Use your knife to cut tourniquets. Heat a knife’s blade in the fire and you can cauterize your wounds.

The Various Types Of Survival Knives On The Market

Depending on these features, knives can be chosen by considering their elements independently and assessing their advantages and liabilities.

Blade Size – How Big Of A Blade Should You Get For A Survival Knife?

When you’re looking at a survival knife you have the obvious choice between big and small, and each can fulfill some specialized purposes.

Bigger blades

Amazing for cutting tree limbs or hammering, and batoning

A large enough survival knife could be used in place of a machete or a hatchet

Not good for finer, more intricate work like carving or skinning where more finesse is required

Larger blade = more weight and less convenience when carrying in your pack or wearing on your belt

Smaller blades

Great for precision tasks like carving or dressing

Lower weight and easier to carry

You may need to have a larger sharp edged tool like a hatchet or a machete.

Not great for rugged tasks

The common blade length for a survival knife varies between 4 and 10 inches, so if you’re considering a smaller one you should know it won’t do you much good in survival situations that require chopping and cutting. Keep in mind, even if you have a big knife it is not recommended for tougher tasks that might call for a hatchet, folding saw or machete.

Blade Mobility

At this point, the choice comes between:

Fixed blades

Durability.

Resistance.

More control

Harder to carry

They generally feel better in the hand due to less moving parts

Folding blades

More compact

Easier to carry

Often fit well in pockets or other tiny spaces

Feels like they offer less control

Generally not as good for rugged tasks

Blade Shape: What Kind Of Shape For Your Survival Knife?

The blade is the most important element of your knife, which is why we’re talking so much about it. Its shape can be:

Straight

Better for chopping

Can be sharpened fast with almost any sort of stone

Serrated

Better for slicing

Requires a specific sharpener

We strongly prefer straight blades over serrated. Serrated knives are more useful only in very specific cases, whereas straight bladed knives are vastly more versatile.

Blade Edge: What Kind Of Edge For Your Survival Knife?

There are different survival knives when it comes to the edge of their blades too. Consider choosing between:

Single edge

Good for striking the Ferro rod and making fires

Batoning wood

Splitting

Building shelters

Resting your thumb on the flat side

Cutting

Providing more control

Safer work

Double edge

Better for stabbing

Amazing for self-defense, because your opponent can’t disarm you as easily if they don’t want to get themselves hurt

More likely to hurt yourself with it, especially if your grip isn’t that good because of perspiration

Not particularly good for most of the uses of a single-edged knife

The Tang: What Kind Of Tang For Your Survival Knife?

This refers to whether or not the blade and the handle are one piece or not, and on the market, you’ll find knives that are:

• Full tang

• Partial tang, like skeletonized, push or rat-tail

If you want something sturdy, you’ll be wanting a full tang survival knife which:

Has a very strong grip because of the scales on its handle

It can’t break in two since the blade and handle are welded together firmly

Has a massive profile

Doesn’t loosen over time if you’re constantly using it for rugged tasks like hammering or chopping

It’s safer to use

However, if you’re not that interested in doing robust chores around camp, you can get a partial tang knife too. Those work just fine for precision tasks and they tend to occupy less space

The Tip: What Kind Of Tip For Your Survival Knife?

There are a large number of different designs for knife tips (and seemingly stranger and stranger ones appear every day). While many survival sites would focus in on specifically what kind of tips you should get, to us it’s not a priority.

Just get a knife that feels good in your hand and cut things and don’t get anything too wacky. The most common knife blades tend to be drop point, spear point, clip point and tanto. We generally gravitate towards drop point knives here as they are the “standard” (if you imagine a survival knife’s shape you’re probably imagining a drop point knife). We feel they offer the best versatility and adaptability. Unless you’re getting your knife specifically to accomplish a particular task over and over again in repetition (in which case you would want a more specialized tool), we’d say don’t worry too much about learning the different shapes of knives and just focus on whether it feels good (and looks good) to you.

The handle of your knife

You need to make sure that your handle:

Has a strong grip

Is rounded and comfortable to hold

Ideally isn’t hollow

Has an optional lanyard hole to insert a piece of cord and carry it easily

The pommel of your knife

While the handle must be tough enough and manufactured from good-quality materials, it’s not that hard picking a good one. That’s mainly because it doesn’t have too many uses apart from providing a strong and comfortable grip.

The most important part of a knife’s handle is its pommel, a.k.a its butt, in laymen terms.

Having a sturdy and flat pommel, not rounded or hooked, can help you with tasks like:

Hammering

Making repairs

Building your shelter by fixing stakes into the ground

Ice fishing: break the ice with the knife tip, by pounding its butt with a stone

The Final Selection

After you’ve considered all these characteristics and types, remember that the final choice is completely up to you. At the end of the day, your personal preferences and style count just as much as your purpose so choose a versatile knife that can be customized and improved constantly.

See More of Our Articles on Survival Gear and Supplies

Here on SoS we don’t just talk about survival knives – we’ve got recommendations for a range of the best survival gear as well as lists for what gear you should have in every situation. Check out some of our favorite articles below: